Roswell Park Celebrates 57 Years of Training Future Scientists

Friday, July 17, 2009

BUFFALO, NY – Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center is providing a unique summer learning experience to young scientists and medical students for the 57th consecutive year. “The Research Participation Program in Science for Young Scholars” is the longest continuously running program of its kind in the United States.

In June, 78 medical, physician assistant, undergraduate college and high school students from 11 states, one Territory (American Samoa), and two foreign countries (Hungary and Poland) began working under the supervision of Roswell Park scientists and clinicians. Their research projects range from the basic science of cancer to studies on cancer prevention, detection and treatment. The program concludes the week of August 10th, when students will report their results in a poster session and oral presentation. More than 400 applications were received from the top science and medical students from around the world.

Students are exposed to an atmosphere of intensive research in which they can develop skills, habits and attitudes useful in scientific investigations and have the opportunity to test their ability to work independently in an innovative way.

“The Roswell Park Program has been training the next generation of scientists for more than 55 years. Alumni may be found in leadership positions throughout the world. It is particularly rewarding for our faculty to watch the trainees grow throughout the summer and many years thereafter. For us, today’s student is tomorrow’s colleague,” said Arthur Michalek, PhD, Dean and Senior Vice President of the Department of Educational Affairs.

The Program, established in 1953, is supported by grants from the National Cancer Institute, First Niagara Bank and the Bethesda Foundation of Hornell. To participate, applicants must exhibit high achievement and commitment to the sciences and must have earned honors, equivalent grade point averages and be on a career path in biomedical sciences.

The mission of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center is to understand, prevent and cure cancer. Roswell Park, founded in 1898, was one of the first cancer centers in the country to be named a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and remains the only facility with this designation in Upstate New York. The Institute is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers; maintains affiliate sites; and is a partner in national and international collaborative programs. For more information, visit Roswell Park’s website at http://www.roswellpark.org, call 1-800-ROSWELL (1-800-767-9355) or email AskRoswell@Roswellpark.org.